Word Study
kestrel
WORDNET DICTIONARY
Noun kestrel has 2 senses
- kestrel(n = noun.animal) american kestrel, falco sparverius, sparrow hawk - small North American falcon; Array is a kind of falcon
- kestrel(n = noun.animal) falco tinnunculus - small Old World falcon that hovers in the air against a wind; Array is a kind of falcon
is a member of falco, genus falco
is a member of falco, genus falco
CIDE DICTIONARY
kestrel, n. [See Castrel.].
A small, slender European hawk (Falco alaudarius ), allied to the sparrow hawk. Its color is reddish fawn, streaked and spotted with white and black. Also called windhover and stannel . The name is also applied to other allied species. [1913 Webster]
" This word is often used in contempt, as of a mean kind of hawk. “Kites and kestrels have a resemblance with hawks.”" Bacon.
[1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
kestrel, n. any small falcon, esp. Falco tinnunculus, which hovers whilst searching for its prey.
Etymology
ME castrell, perh. f. F dial. casserelle, F cr{eacute}c(er)elle, perh. imit. of its cry
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